Deep-sea oxygen spike laid foundation for new life

NANJING－A recent study has revealed that deep-sea oxygen content surged 600 million years ago, which laid the foundation for the emergence of multicellular organisms.

Paleontologists at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology from the Chinese Academy of Sciences cooperated with researchers from the United States and France and reported the discovery, which was published in the journal, Geology.

Oxygen is essential for the survival of life. There is enough oxygen in today's oceans to meet the needs of plants and animals, but this was not always the case, according to Wang Wei, a researcher at the institute.

It is generally believed that modern oceans began to form 450 million years ago. Before that, the deep-sea environment cycled between oxidation and hypoxia, says Wang, who is also the leader of the research project.

The research team studied deep-sea core samples dating back 600 million years ago and found the oxygen content increased significantly due to large-scale oxidation, a key point in the evolution of life on Earth.

The conclusion is also supported by the discovery of fossils containing multicellular organisms, Wang adds.

Xinhua